Kiana Kiashemshaki

I am a Tech nerd in every sense of the word.

View Resume Portfolio

About Me

Kiana

I’m an IT enthusiastic with a passion for systems, cloud, and security.

I started with servers and networking, grew into infrastructure and cloud, and now focus on building secure, reliable environments.

Titles don’t matter, solving problems does. Whether it’s automating a task, securing an IAM, or tuning a network, my goal is the same: keep systems smooth, efficient, and safe.

Off the keyboard, you’ll probably find me making coffee art or climbing rocks. Always up for new challenges and a good espresso. ☕

Skills

C C
C++ C++
Python Python
Bash Bash
Linux Linux
Kali Linux Kali Linux
AWS AWS
Azure Azure
Active Directory Active Directory
Docker Docker
Kubernetes Kubernetes
Helm Helm
Terraform Terraform
Ansible Ansible
Jenkins Jenkins
MongoDB MongoDB
LaTeX LaTeX

Resume

Experience

Cloud Support Intern

Redapple Digital Health, Inc. (Oct 2025 – Present)

  • Supported AWS-based infrastructure for a cloud-native health platform built on Node.js and MongoDB.
  • Assisted in managing EC2/ECS services, S3 storage, and CloudFront distribution.
  • Monitored system metrics via CloudWatch, identifying uptime and performance trends.
  • Participated in IAM policy reviews and data security audits for HIPAA compliance.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Bowling Green State University (Aug 2023 - May 2025)

  • Assisted professors in Operating Systems & Network Security; supported weekly labs.
  • Graded 100+ assignments, quizzes, and exams with constructive feedback.
  • Held office hours; mentored students in debugging and performance optimization.

Network Engineer

Hamravesh (Sep 2021 - Jul 2022)

  • Built and managed network infrastructure for Kubernetes/cloud-native platforms.
  • Tuned proxies and load balancers to improve reliability and cut latency by ~30%.
  • Monitored and secured virtual networks across cloud environments.

IT System Engineer

Erst Host (Jun 2020 - Jul 2021)

  • Monitored server performance and provided infrastructure support across teams.
  • Developed automation scripts in Bash and PowerShell to streamline tasks.
  • Performed log analysis, patch management, and user account administration.

IT System Administrator

Erst Host (Jul 2019 - Jun 2020)

  • Managed Windows and Ubuntu systems, performed maintenance and updates.
  • Configured/maintained Active Directory, file servers, and Group Policy.
  • Provided user support and administered DNS, DHCP, and basic firewall rules.

Volunteer Experience

  • Cybersecurity Researcher

    University of Washington (Jul 2025 – Present)

    • Researching secure automation pipelines for critical power & infrastructure systems.
    • Designing experiments for cyber-physical attack scenarios; documenting detection, containment, and recovery outcomes.
    • Collaborating on system-level security frameworks (zero trust / defense-in-depth) and publishing threat models and mitigation guidance.

  • Research Assistant

    Bowling Green State University (Jan 2025 – Present)

    • Participate in cybersecurity and digital forensics research projects.
    • Contribute to papers by analyzing system artifacts and digital traces.
    • Use forensic tools to uncover system-level security insights.

  • Web Application Penetration Tester

    The Secure Signals Project (Apr 2025 – Present)

    • Perform manual and automated penetration tests on web applications.
    • Identify vulnerabilities based on the OWASP Top 10.
    • Use OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite to simulate attacks and analyze responses.
    • Report findings with clear remediation guidance.

Education

  • Master's in Computer Science, Cyber Security

    Bowling Green State University (Aug 2023 - May 2025)

    Coursework: Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Computer Systems Security, Network Security, Secure Software Engineering

    Bachelor's in Computer Engineering

    Azad Tehran University (Sep 2015 - Apr 2019)

    Achievements: Best Graduate Teaching Assistant (Spring 2018).

Certifications

  • DevOps Engineering
  • AWS Cloud Practitioner
  • Security+ (SY0-701) Prep
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Python Programming
  • Google IT Support

Projects

Piqniq – Emergency Support for Panic Attacks (2nd Place Winner – BGSU ACM Hackathon 2025)

Skills: TypeScript, CSS, JavaScript, HTML, UX/UI Design, Google Maps API

Developed a mobile-first app to support users during panic attacks by sending live location and alerts to emergency contacts. The interface includes a soothing breathing guide and a friendly virtual assistant to help reduce anxiety while help is on the way.

Demo GitHub

Comprehensive Analysis of Factors Affecting Mathematics Learning

Skills: Python, Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, Matplotlib, Statistical Analysis, Machine Learning

Conducted a study analyzing factors influencing student performance in higher education mathematics. Built machine learning models for predictive insights and clustering techniques to group similar behaviors.

Demo GitHub

Water and Soil Analysis Visualization

Skills: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, D3.js, Bootstrap, Data Visualization, Web Development

Created interactive visualizations for field data related to water and soil behavior. Supported scientific exploration with dynamic and visually appealing interfaces.

Demo GitHub

South America Country's Analysis

Skills: D3.js, Bootstrap, JavaScript, Data Analysis, Data Visualization

Developed data visualizations for datasets representing 12 South American countries. Helped in exploring and analyzing regional data through dynamic charts and maps.

Demo GitHub

Face Detection Web Application

Skills: Python, Flask, OpenCV, MTCNN, Web Application Development, Computer Vision

Built a web application for face detection in uploaded images using the MTCNN algorithm. Provided a clean user interface for image uploads and efficient detection results.

GitHub

TinDog: Dog Matchmaking Platform

Skills: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, Responsive Design

Designed and developed a playful web application for dog lovers to find matches for their pets. Integrated responsive design with Bootstrap for a seamless user experience and showcased key features like pricing plans and testimonials.

Demo GitHub

Recent Research Papers

Honors & Awards

2nd Place – BGSU ACM Hackathon 2025

Awarded for creating Piqniq, an emergency alert app designed to support users through panic attacks.

Awarded Full Tuition Waiver – Department of Computer Science, BGSU

Recipient of a full tuition waiver awarded by the Department of Computer Science at Bowling Green State University for the entire duration of my master's program.

Contact

kianakia399@gmail.com
kkiana@bgsu.edu
GitHub (KianaKiashemshaki)
LinkedIn